TINY Channel Island Alderney is to have a twice weekly “lifeline” freight link with Southampton.
Lying 60 miles off the Isle of Wight and just eight from the coast of France, it has been added to the services of Channel Island freight specialist Huelin-Renouf Shipping (HRS).
It is the latest evidence of the success of the firm’s transfer along the coast from Portsmouth to £6m new facilities in the Eastern Docks in just over a year ago, which has already seen it add another ship to its services, effectively doubling capacity.
From 23 February HRS will sail to and from Alderney’s Braye Harbour to Jersey and Southampton twice a week, linking the islands’ most northerly port directly to the UK.
The test visit of HRS’ 86m MV Huelin Dispatch set a record for the largest vessel ever handled by Braye, which had to be extended to cope.
Steve Champion-Smith of HRS, said: “We look forward to serving the island for many years to come. Our carrying capabilities, coupled with regular sailings from Southampton, will allow us to offer a better service to both businesses and residents.”
HRS vessels operate between Southampton and the Channel Islands five days a week. On Tuesdays and Thursdays from February 23 they will sail into Jersey from Southampton, calling into Guernsey and Alderney on the return leg.
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